Huge thanks to everyone who kindly responded to our appeal in July by donating food geared to supporting our clients and their families through the long school summer holidays.

As Louise Willmer, our Stock Controller, explains: “We have been experiencing renewed high demand over the last few weeks, which reflects the financial struggle that clients are facing.

“This in turn has put pressure on the stock on our shelves and in some cases these have become seriously depleted. Thanks to our supporters’ generous donations of food and money, we have also been able to buy in bulk from Morrisons to help fill the gaps in stock and ensure we can give a balanced food package to our families in need.”

In August, long life whole milk for children once again heads our priority list of 12 most-wanted items, along with jars of peanut butter and fish/meat paste.

Small packets/boxes of 40 tea bags, 500g packets of long grain rice and tins of ham and chicken are also on the list, plus jellies, Angel Delight and tinned rice pudding.

Completing the list are three non-food items: unisex deodorant and shampoo (we totally ran out of shampoo during one session in July) and bottles of washing up liquid. Click here to view this month’s full list.

Donations can be brought on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings between 9.00am and 12.00midday to our base at Purley United Reformed Church next to Purley Hospital in the town centre, or they can be dropped off at any of our local in-store and roadside collection points listed here.

Thanks to so many people’s kind generosity – from churches, schools, community organisations and businesses, as well as local families and individuals – we have been able to provide food now for almost 315,000 meals for families in crisis since we opened 10 years ago in 2013.